Circle vs Skillshare: Course Platforms Comparison (2026)

Circle is a comprehensive community platform with course creation tools, while Skillshare is an online learning platform offering a wide variety of classes.

AI Citation Scorecard

How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask course platforms questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.

Skillshare leads overall — 20% cited vs Circle 0% across 10 probes.

ChatGPT

Circle

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

SkillshareLeads

1 / 1 probes

100%

Excellent

Perplexity

Circle

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Skillshare

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Gemini

Circle

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Skillshare

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Claude

Circle

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Skillshare

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Copilot

Circle

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Skillshare

0 / 1 probes

Invisible

Scale:NoneLowFairStrongExcellent

Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.

Pricing

Circle

Starting price

$89/mo

Free tier

Yes

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Skillshare

Starting price

$13.99/month

Free tier

—

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Key Features

Circle

✓Unlimited members
✓Courses
✓Discussions
✓Events
✓Website Builder
✓Live streams
✓Custom branding
✓Reporting & analytics

Skillshare

✓Thousands of top-rated classes
✓Learn on-demand, online & app
✓Taught by industry icons
✓Curated learning paths
✓Active creative community
✓Certificates and badges

When to choose Circle

Circle is a suitable choice for users who prioritize building a community around their courses, offering features like discussions, live streams, and a website builder. It also provides custom branding and reporting & analytics.

When to choose Skillshare

Skillshare is ideal for individuals looking to access a vast library of creative classes taught by industry experts, with the flexibility to learn on-demand via web or app. It emphasizes curated learning paths and community interaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences in features between Circle and Skillshare?

Circle offers features for community building such as unlimited members, discussions, events, a website builder, live streams, custom branding, and reporting & analytics. Skillshare provides thousands of top-rated classes, on-demand learning, curated learning paths, and certificates and badges.

Do Circle and Skillshare offer a free tier?

Circle offers a free tier, while Skillshare does not mention a free tier.

What are the pricing models for Circle and Skillshare?

Circle's starting price is $89/month. Skillshare's starting price is $13.99/month, with annual payment required after a trial.

What integrations are available for Circle and Skillshare?

Circle integrates with Zapier, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, Auth0, MemberSpace, Memberful, and Teachable. Skillshare does not list specific integrations.

What are the disadvantages of Circle and Skillshare?

Circle does not offer monthly billing, has custom pricing for Circle Plus only, requires add-ons for some advanced features, and has limited storage on lower plans. Skillshare's disadvantages include no mentioned free tier, mandatory annual payment after trial, limited integration details, and a primary focus on creative fields.